Lauren Matthews has quit her job working for Senator Fordham in Washington, D.C. She needs to mend fences with her mother on a trip to Cedar Springs, Colorado. Lauren is trying to get a handle on her mother’s new husband, yet she needs some answers about the mysterious man, Arlen.

The women in Jake McKenna’s life are giving him fits. His airplane, Betty Sue, is a P-51 Mustang – a warplane from World War II. He is attempting to get her fixed up for the big race, but money is tight and he needs sponsors. His sister, Ruby Jean, is trying to fix him up with the mayor’s new stepdaughter who is in Cedar Springs for a visit. Plus, he is running the flight school his grandfather started many years ago. Jake does not need any more complications.

Lauren is worried about her mother, Charlene. Six months ago, Charlene eloped with Arlen, the mayor of Cedar Springs, and Lauren cannot understand why. Jake’s little sister needs a favor. Ruby Jean McKenna is the executive assistant to the mayor, and Arlen would like Lauren to see a bit of the town while she is in Cedar Springs. Jake may not be the best tour guide since he has as many problems with the mayor as Lauren. Maybe they can discover a few of Mayor Arlen’s secrets.

I have not read a book this emotionally intense in awhile. From the light-heartedness of a romantic relationship to the conversations between Lauren and Charlene, this story runs the gamut of emotions. As much as this is a romance, A Great Kisser is also about Lauren finding out about her mother, the woman. So often, we forget our mothers are women, too, and Lauren does get a new view on who her mom is. The great kisser part, of course, pertains to Jake. Ms. Kauffman writes the kissing scenes in such a way that my toes curled just from the descriptions. With the added mystery of Arlen and his secrets, I was glued to the pages from beginning to end.